The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

me up (on his car) by violence! Slay that Bhishma,
O thou of mighty arms, for whose sake, O tiger of
Bhrigu’s race, overwhelmed with such distress,
I suffer such poignant misery! Bhishma, O thou
of Bhrigu’s race, is covetous, and mean, and
proud of his victory. Therefore, O sinless one,
thou shouldst give him his deserts. While, of
lord, I was being abducted by him, even this was the
desire that I cherished in my heart, viz., that
I should cause that hero of great vows to be slain.
Therefore, O sinless Rama, gratify this desire of
mine! O thou of mighty arms, slay Bhishma, even
as Purandara slew Vritra.’”

SECTION CLXXX

“Bhishma said, ’O lord, repeatedly urged
by that maiden to slay Bhishma, Rama replied unto
that weeping girl, saying, ’O daughter of Kasi,
O thou of the fairest complexion, I do not, on any
account, take up arms now except for the sake of those
that are conversant with the Vedas. Tell me,
therefore, what else I can do for thee? Both Bhishma
and Salwa are, O princess, exceedingly obedient to
me. Do not grieve, I will accomplish thy object.
I will not, however, O beautiful lady, take up arms,
except at the command of Brahmanas. This hath
been my rule of conduct.’

“Amva said, ’My misery, O holy one, should
by any means be dispelled by thee. That misery
of mine hath been caused by Bhishma. Slay him,
therefore, O lord, without much delay.’

“Rama said, ’O daughter of Kasi, say but
the word and Bhishma, however, deserving of reverence
from thee, will, at my word, take up thy feet on his
head!’

“Amva said, ’O Rama, slay in battle that
Bhishma who roareth like an Asura. Indeed, summoned
to the encounter (by him), slay him, O Rama, if thou
wishest (to do) what is agreeable to me. It behoveth
thee, besides, to make thy promise true.’

“Bhishma continued, ’While, O king, Rama
and Amva were talking thus with each other, the Rishi
(Akritavrana) of highly virtuous soul said these words,
’It behoveth thee not, O mighty-armed one, to
desert this girl that seeketh thy protection!
If summoned to battle, Bhishma cometh to the encounter
and sayeth—­I am vanquished, or, if he obeyeth
thy words, then that which this maiden seeketh will
be accomplished, O son of Bhrigu’s race, and
the words spoken by thee, O hero, will also, O lord,
be true! This also was, O great Muni, the vow
then made by thee, O Rama,—­the vow made
by thee before Brahmanas after thou hadst conquered
all the Kshatriyas, viz., that thou wouldst slay
in battle the person, be he a Brahmana, a Kshatriya,
a Vaisya, or a Sudra, who would be a foe to the Brahmanas.
Thou hadst further promised that as long as thou wouldst
live thou wouldst not abandon those that would come
to thee in fright and seek thy protection, and that
thou wouldst, O Bhargava, slay that proud warrior
who would vanquish in battle all the assembled Kshatriyas
of the earth! O Ram, even Bhishma, that perpetuator
of Kuru’s race, hath achieved such success (over
all the Kshatriyas)! Approaching him, O son of
Bhrigu’s race, encounter him now in battle!’